80% of COVID-19 patients
are asymptomatic or showing mild symptoms: Says Union Ministry of Health &
Family Welfare’s Report
The traditional model of hospital-based Healthcare delivery in India India
These patients are not required to go for hospital-based treatments and
in this regard, the guidelines of the Indian Council of Medical Research say
that persons clinically categorised as having very mild or pre-symptomatic
(COVID-19) will have the option of home isolation provided they have the
requisite facility at their residence. Understandably, the government
recommends home isolation with the intent to ease the burden on the hospitals.
“Thanks to the government guidelines, we have been
providing home isolation services to Fortis Hospital across the country, and
also collaborated with the corporate like Tata, Dabur, ABFL and insurance
companies for our HIP to manage the asymptomatic as well as the patients with
mild symptoms. We have developed a customised Home Isolation Programme (HIP) under
two caps — ‘COVID Essentials’ and ‘COVID Advanced.’ The former is meant ‘for
low-risk individuals’ and the latter ‘for high-risk individuals. Home isolation
is feasible and affordable for everyone. And, this will also decrease the
burden on hospitals”, said Mr Vivek Srivastava, Co-Founder &
CEO, HealthCare atHome (HCAH).
As the number of mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 patients has been
increasing gradually, it seems that 90% of the patients will be treated through
home isolation care considering its affordability and feasibility. To this end,
HealthCare atHome (HCAH) is the first company, which has developed a
meticulously designed Home Isolation Programme (HIP).
“We have been receiving overwhelming responses from
patients amidst the COVID-19 panic as they are approaching us considering the
feasibility of Home Isolation Programme (HIP). Two weeks ago, one of the
perplexed patients with mild symptoms of COVID-19 reached out to our helpline,
who was painstakingly responded by our HIP team. He was immediately connected
to the concerned physician followed by a psychologist to ease his mental stress
and a dietician. Subsequently, testing was done via hassle-free sample
collection at home. Rest, our HIP team has managed remotely with the fast
recovery of the patient”, said Dr Gaurav Thukral, COO, HealthCare atHOME
(HCAH).
“In the last three months, the number of queries for
our Home Isolation Programme (HIP) has increased significantly as we are
receiving 250-300 queries per day. So far, we have treated over four thousand
patients through our HIP. To start the HIP, first, we do an on boarding call
with the patients and their family members by trained COVID-19 experts on how
to implement HIP protocols. We provide complete training and education ‘On how
to live in Home Isolation’ with IEC material. Caregivers are also available
round the clock”, added Dr Gaurav.
Amid the chronic shortage of hospital beds almost everywhere, Home
isolation services turn out to be the most preferred and feasible choice.
Recently, the UP government has decided to allow home isolation for
asymptomatic COVID-19 patients under certain conditions.
Regarding the allowance of home isolation for asymptomatic COVID-19
patients, Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Awanish Kumar Awasthi said, “So
far, home isolation was not allowed in the state. But now we have decided to
allow it with certain conditions and norms.
He also added that there is an adequate number of beds
in COVID-designated hospitals in the state, and the decision to allow home isolation
was made based on ‘requests from people’.”
July 2020
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